And the winners are...
By Mimi Vanderhaven
On August 28, Greater Cleveland Partnership’s (GCP) Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) announced the winners of the seventh season of Cleveland Chain Reaction, a neighborhood economic development project and small business pitch competition.
The first-place winner of $40,000 was Balance Cheer and Gymnastics, an athletic facility serving predominantly underrepresented female youth; the second-place winner of $20,000 was Covermecutee, a clothing company offering designs that celebrate modesty without compromising style, comfort or sustainability; and the third-place winner of $10,000 was CLE Urban Winery, a working winery and tasting room in the Cedar-Lee neighborhood. The winners also received complimentary advertising space from Mimi Magazine, Cleveland Chain Reaction’s 2024 print publication partner.
The 17 remaining semifinalists received $1,250 grants funded by competition partners Medical Mutual, Minutemen Family of Companies and MAGNET, along with discounted advertising from Mimi. All participants received COSE memberships and will continue to be supported by the organization. The winners and awards were announced live at the Ariel LaSalle Theatre during “Kickin’ it with Kenny” on FOX 8 News in the Morning.
“The true diversity of businesses that participated this season is further proof that entrepreneurship is growing and thriving in our region,” says Megan E. Kim, executive director of COSE and senior vice president, membership development and marketing at GCP. “It was inspiring and exciting following these entrepreneurs through their journeys, hearing their stories, and learning how they want to make a big impact by creating jobs and contributing to the overall economic vitality of Greater Cleveland.”
The 20 semifinalists participated in a four-week bootcamp hosted by JumpStart, where business experts, including those from Score Cleveland, advised them on how to pitch their businesses, create a business plan, place value on their business and appropriately invest capital to take their businesses to the next level. On Wednesday, August 21 and Thursday, August 22, the entrepreneurs pitched their businesses to a panel of judges for the opportunity to win the capital investment.
“JumpStart is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs grow through expert advising, connections, and education,” explains Lauren Smith-Petta, JumpStart’s director of educational services. “Partnering with Chain Reaction for this four-week bootcamp is an honor, and it’s inspiring to see the potential of Cleveland’s entrepreneurs in this program. We’re excited to watch their journeys unfold.”
Season seven’s 20 semifinalists included (in alphabetical order):
• Balance Cheer and Gymnastics
• Black Culture Candles
• Black Mentality Clothing
• Cleaning Unlimited
• CLE Urban Winery
• Cleveland Cold Brew Coffee
• Covermecutee
• Crock’n CLE
• Filter Factory Inc.
• Flava Catering
• Gourmet Girl Custom Cakes
• Juicy Vegan
• The Laundry Basket LLC
• Ohio Laser Cleaning
• Paradise Cakes
• Scrubs Galore Uniforms Inc.
• Squash the Beef
• The Tangled Vine
• UnBAR Cafe Inc.
• Uncle Crunch
Cleveland Chain Reaction connects entrepreneurs to capital and mentors and places new businesses in Greater Cleveland to create jobs and prosperity. Since its inception in 2017 (the competition was put on hold in 2020 due to the pandemic), Cleveland Chain Reaction has received more than 591 applications, coached and prepared 146 small business semifinalists, connected winning businesses to more than $1.8 million in capital and provided over 660 hours of technical assistance.
Cleveland Chain Reaction was inspired by Cleveland Hustles, the reality series produced by LeBron James that aired on CNBC in 2016. Cleveland Chain Reaction is an independent and unrelated effort that supports the continued opportunity that Cleveland Hustles initiated.
For more information, visit ClevelandChainReaction.org.